This one pirouettes on pointe, tracing a graceful circle,
until my hand wobbles, wrecking its penciled orbit.

Where’s the one that will take me straight home—without going in circles?

This is my first sijo, a Korean form consisting of three lines of 14-16 syllables. The first line introduces a concept, the second develops it, and the third incorporates a twist. In some ways it is like a haiku but it allows the use of metaphor and other literary devices. The longer lines also give the writer more room to breathe. Tricia of The Miss Rumphius Effect featured sijo earlier in the month in her National Poetry Month series Jumping into Form.

I enjoy forms. They give me another push to be creative. Thanks for stopping by and commenting so often!

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A Little About Me

I live in Washington, DC with my husband, two of my three kids (one has left the nest), and my sleepy cat, Scout. My book Soccer Nonsense is forthcoming from Boyds Mills Press. I am a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. When I get stuck with my writing, I go out for a walk for inspiration. You can see photographs from my walks on instagram at elizabethsteinglass.